Investigation in Nusraat Faria's case isn't complete: home advisor

Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury says that a case has been filed against actress Nusraat Faria and that she has been arrested before the case investigation is complete.

The home advisor spoke to the media at the Secretariat after a meeting on the law-and-order situation for Eid-ul-Azha on Monday.

Earlier in the day, Cultural Affairs Advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki said that Faria’s arrest was “not justifiable”.

Asked to comment on the issue, the home advisor said that he was not aware of what Farooki had said. However, he added that everyone has the freedom to express their personal opinions.

In a Facebook post, Farooki wrote: "This case against Faria has been around for some time. Until now, I wasn’t aware of any government move to arrest her before the investigation concluded."

"Following the backlash over the former president Abdul Hamid’s foreign trip, there may have been an overreaction driven by nervousness. A similar incident happened a few days ago involving Barrister Andaleeve Rahman Partho’s wife."

He said, "These incidents are by no means justifiable. I believe Faria will get legal remedy."

"We must handle these broad-based cases with greater sensitivity. We should remember our core duty is to bring the real perpetrators of the incidents during the July movement to justice."

Asked about allegations that people are being harassed in cases tied to the July Uprising, Home Advisor Jahangir said: “We have stated many times that innocent people should not be harassed. We said that only the perpetrators should be brought to justice and punished – that no innocent person should suffer.”

Asked why Nusraat had been arrested when she was going abroad for medical treatment, he said: “The investigation against her has not been completed. We cannot make a statement before the investigation is complete. If we let her go in this situation, you will then ask why we released her.”

Asked why Partho’s wife was detained despite no case being filed against her, the home advisor said that there is a policy on foreign travel and that those who fall under the policy are detained.